Past Watch Site

LU MANSION

An extraordinary domestic complex that spans the equivalent of several city blocks, Lu Mansion is the best preserved traditional Chinese residential complex of its type in southeast China, and only one of 20 to have survived in the country. Although constructed between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Lu Mansion follows an architectural style of the region that originated in the seventh century. After suffering severe damage during the Cultural Revolution, Lu Mansion, which currently houses 330 families, was designated a national-level cultural relic in 1988. Despite the designation, the site continues to be compromised by floods and inappropriate repairs. As a result, portions of the Lu Mansion are in danger of collapse. The Chinese government is committed to conserving Lu Mansion, but the site requires substantial funding for the conservation work it needs.